Hiya Fumies,
Today we are going to look at something I’ve had rattling around my fragrance cupboard on and off for years. I think it has been reformulated three or four times because every time I repurchase it smells slightly different and over time the packaging has changed too. Still with the same central lush 80’s big bang but slightly thinner. Considering though how many fragrances have come and gone since 1984 it is a wonder we can still readily buy Paloma Picasso.
Photo stolen herzmaschine
It is still a heady swirl of high octane powerhouse perfume, for me a cross between Chanel No. 5 and Aromatics Elixer. With a start point of spicy, sharp and sweet amped up by the aldehydes. As we move through the life of the fragrance the base seems to be pumping its dark and sexual tune nearly from the start with almost cameo like appearances from the rest of the notes that pop up and then submerge back into the background, only to do so again when you least expect it. Better than excellent sillage, in fact you will be your own scent cloud, and lasts, lasts and lasts till it smells like a dirty ho is in the next room undressing, then gone.
Photo Stolen perret-optic
Definitely not a close work environment scent unless you are the boss or your crew has a wear as much perfume as you like agreement. If you are wearing it to dinner give it at least 2 hours to breathe before you sit to eat and it will probably skunk the bus in the mornings too. This is a dressed up high heels and gown of a scent but could equally be worn outdoors where there are no perfume restraints. I like to wear it to bed, selfishly and for my own pleasure, while market shopping or cleaning the house with some pop music playing.
Fragrantica gives these notes & accords;
Top: Coriander, aldehydes, angelica and carnation
Heart: Ylang ylang, jasmine and hyacinth
Base: Oakmoss, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, tobacco, castoreum, civet and musk
Please check BoisDeJasmine and PerfumeShrine for the full story. They also have much more detailed note lists, maybe Fragrantica has the modern incarnations list?
FragranceX has the best selection I could find at reasonable prices, below Gift Coffret only around $60
THURSDAY GIVEAWAY
Our Thursday Giveaway this week is a gift from APJ guest blogger EmmaKate. She was lucky enough to win our prize at an event but the fragrance is way too strong for her to wear comfortably in public. Her loss is your gain because we are giving away this fantastic 50ml EdP (that has had 1 spritz taken by EmmaKate) and a 6.7 oz of Body Lotion. Below you’ll see a similar coffret valued at RRP $75, only the exterior is slightly different on ours.
Photo Stolen 99Perfume
How do you win? For this week only Australian addresses can enter. Sorry world but I can’t afford to send this one OS, it’s expensive! All you have to do is tell me somewhere that you would like to wear this gorgeous Paloma Picasso fragrance. Easy Peasy!!
Entries close by 9pm Saturday July 28 2012 Australian EST and winners will be announced in the Saturday night post. If you are our lucky winner you must get in touch with your address details by Wednesday August 1 2012 or I’ll give your prize to someone else or maybe keep it for myself, I’m running low. Communication via DM on Twitter (@OzPerfumeJunkie) or FB (Portia Turbo-Gear).
Alright gang, Thank You for dropping in and Aussies, GO TO IT!!
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
This sounds like a love boat perfume… Sailing the pacific ocean, headed for Hawaii. Summer. Sea breeze. Drinking cocktails. Hot men lingering. Yep, that’s where I’d wear it. Sounds like it’ll make the real men work and the meek jump ship.
Ps missed trivia tonight. 😦
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We missed you too Colleen. GRRRR!
You’re in the draw!
Portia xx
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Obviously, I’m not eligible for the draw, and that’s quite all right, but OMG…the memories of Mon Parfum!!! I wore it by the bucket (yes, that’s the only way to say it!) in the 80’s and a bit of the 90s, and it’s amazing I never got arrested for it! In those days, it contained so much castoreum, it practically growled on your skin – in all the best ways! 😉 xoxo
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I am so sad that IFRA and economics have changed it. It makes me despair but it still has a good hit of the ooomph that I remember. I can imagine you wearing it too.
Portia xx
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Of course! Neither you nor I have ever been afraid of Making a Statement…;)
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I’m not eligible for the draw either but I just wanted to say I had my own scent cloud of this back in the day too. I love those big 80’s ‘fume bombs. I haven’t sniffed it in years though.
Also want to thank you, Portia, for calling Fancy Nights a “dirty bitch Shalimar”. I saw a bottle today at a discounter and bought it unsniffed because you had me so curious about it and it was so cheap. You are right with your description! The shocker is it lasts longer than Shalimar does on me. Part of me is horrified I bought a Jessica Simpson scent though.
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YAY!!! I’m so glad you have come over to the dark side. It’s surprisingly good! Ha ha ha ha. Aren’t we funny.
It’s like the old Shalimar.
Portia xx
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It really is good. I think I’ll like it here on the dark side. Lol.
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I would wear this fragrance to morning tea with my darling mother ! Great review Portia , the notes sound dinamite ! Especially the base notes, it must be amazing in the far dry down , I think I may have sniffed it the 90s ! Ah, those were the days back then …….. We thought they’d never end 🙂
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Hey Sinnerman01,
You are one of my favourite fragrances.
I think your Mum would think you POSH if you wore Mon Parfum to tea. great choice.
Good luck in the draw.
Portia xx
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Hi Portia , this one has slipped under my radar ! I do remember it from the 90s thou! I love the sound of the base notes ! And yes I’m sure it lasts longer than a monsoon rain ! I think I would wear this dressed up in my absolute best and perhaps later another scent over it to personalize it , have you ever tried dirt by Demeter ? It layers so well over almost anything ! Great for us lads how like to use fem frags ! Ps , home sweet home 🙂 xxx
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Ps, I have gone from Tmitch to sinnerman! Not sure what happened there but you know who darl ! Xxx
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Just how strong and long lasting are those aldehydes? I have to admit sometimes I don’t mind aldehydes, but most of the time it crosses a scent off my list. Still the rest of the notes in the list and your description leave me drooling. I will have to organize a search party for a sample of this.
I have to admit, that for once I wish I was living in the Aussie paradise instead of the Cali one. Must be something special about Australia, in the past two years I’ve had three friends travel there. One even stayed and worked in Sydney for 6 months.
Good luck to all the Aussie entrants!
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You should definitely try a sample, the aldehydes are sparkling quite a way into the lifespan. You may hate it,
You should come down here and visit too.
Portia xx
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Wow!!! Wearing this listening to ‘pop music’ sounds a fabby idea.Isimply hope a few might be Spandau Ballet,David Sylvian/Japan and Bronski beat!!! Throw in some Diana Ross too. However I visualize two Very Different scenerios to wearthis Fragrance. 1. to aMelbourne Cup VIP Marquee….2. to a swanky cocktail party at an art gallery/theatre,dressed ‘to the nines’
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Both great choices to wear this to saffyishere. Those are 4 of my all time fave artists. Not on my current playlists I’m afraid but I was drag chorus for Jimmy Sommerville here in Sydney for the Gay Games. He seemed very sweet.
Portia xx
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Man, you are right about that sillage! I bought PP in 1991, shortly after I met my future husband, now my Ex. I wore it heaps, but somewhere along the line I stopped, and now I don’t have it any more. Must have been lost in some how move. If I had it again would wear it to my Ex.’s place to put me in the mood tell tell him what a lazy waste-of-space cretin he is.
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Hilarious!!
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OH Palermo…. one of my faves!!! I used to wear it for many years back in the early nineties, and always received pleasing comments….. so the question where would I wear it? Oh easy, on my neck, wrists, and a little extra spritz on my decolletage, and then straight into clean sheets so the gorgeous sensual aroma is all around me while I sleep, and the first thing to hit me upon awakening……… aaaaah, a very lushious, sexy smell that deserves to be worn 24/7, whatever the occasion :))) xxx
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I wish you had done that yesterday, then you could have been in the draw Penny. GRRR!
I can see you being a Mon Parfum wearer. YUM
Portia xx
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Hello! I stumbled upon this blog while trying to find a perfume similar to Paloma Picasso. SO exciting to read all the posts about my favourite perfume. I have been wearing this for the past 20 years or so – I started young. It makes me feel really sexy and powerful. I’ve only ever smelled it on one other woman before and it was like some secret that we both shared. Do you guys have any recommendations for me? – I love woodsy, exotic, deep fragrances – but looking for something more subtle than PP. thank you. xxx nina
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WOW!! I am so happy that you enjoy Paloma Picasso. She is a knockout of a fragrance, isn’t she? You could try Passerelle by Tommi Sooni, Oud Ispahan by DIOR, Niki de Saint Phalle (green woods), Midnight In Paris by Van Cleef & Arpels, Wild Ginger Chai by SOIVOHLE. All of these have a woodsy note but are a departure from your beloved PP. Go to SurrenderToChance, they have samples at a very reasonable price so you can try them in the comfort of your home,
Enjoy the hunt,
Welcome to the APJ family,
Portia xx
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HI Portia – how generous of you to share all that information. I’m being the hunt immediately.
Thank you so much.
x
nina
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